I know EEK has some studs back, how many I am not sure. I know Langdon has pretty much their whole team back. Hillsboro, Kindred and Beulah are all dropping down a class and had very good teams this year. I think Velva has some talent returning as well. This is a total guess but I believe these will make up the upper echelon. Hazen, Carrington, and Dickinson Trinity are also traditionally strong programs. Here is my early prognostication, total guess though. I might be totally off base, just looking for opinions.

With all the changes coming to Class A, I think it's going to be even tougher to predict. I like your thoughts though. EEK returns a lot (but they lose some key players on both sides of the ball). I would keep them in the top 5.

I'm predicting next years Semi-Final for the east will be a rematch of EEK and Langdon. Both teams are returning practically there entire team, and i'm honestly excited to see the pass game from Langdon which i think will be almost impossible to stop next year. I'm not counting EEK out, there run game will be one of the best in the state. Weather will be the biggest factor when these two teams clash.

Region 1:1. EEKM - Holy smokes that RB is good. And as long as they keep feeding him they will be good.2. Hillsboro - Dropping down to A they will find they will have more depth and they return some good talent.3. Kindred - Outside of getting smoked in the final they had a great year and that should continue in A.4. Northern Cass - Great Coaching staff and good program should continue to build.

Region 2:1. Langdon - Good group coming back, coach seems to have program headed in right direction.2. Park River - Losing some good players but if the young players develop like they should this should be a quality team again.3. Carrington - Very consistent over the last 8 years.4. Harvey - Good program with good history needs their young players to develop.

Region 3:1. Velva - Most solid football program in the state of North Dakota, regardless of division. Had an "off" year, they will rebound.2. Kenmare-B-BC - Loses a ton of offense to graduation, but returns some really big kids. If they can find a QB, Offense should be even better in 11 man.3. DLB - Tough loss in the state championship game. Coaching staff should rebound no problem to have another playoff run.4. Bishop Ryan - Opted to play up. They will have a good team because they are Bishop Ryan. Coaching staff is very good there.

Region 4:1. Beulah - They have a tremendous strength and conditioning program and have really committed to football. Dropping down to A will have them playing schools they out number in roster size.2. Dickinson Trinity - Talented players return. If they get in a few new transfers they could be one of the best teams in the state.3. Killdeer - Team just keeps on winning. Hasn't made the playoffs just once since 1995.4. Hazen - Tough call here but Hazen should have a decent team returning.

1. Ellendale-EK: Return one of the best players in the state. They do lose some starters but I think they find enough to step up to be comparable to this year so any improvement Grueneich makes them a scary team.2. Langdon: They virtually don't lose a single key contributor and had probably the scariest passing game in the state this year. Chemistry should be even better next year. If they can get better line play and figure out a way to get some stops on defense this will be one of the best teams in the state.3a. Hillsboro-CV (Tied with Kindred): They lose some important seniors but return an awful lot. I think that the move down a division will help cushion the loss of some of those seniors. If they get a few key players to step up they will be solid. A lot of tradition of success from this program (dating back to their nine-man days). They feel neck and neck with Kindred to me. I am inclined to lean towards Hillsboro having a better season for nothing other than gut feeling.3b. Kindred (Tied with Hillsboro-CV): They had 60 kids on their roster for the state championship game. 60 kids! That depth will be impossible to match in single A. I know they lose some seniors but with that many kids and the experience that they got this year, they should be able to retool. This tie between the two for me comes down to who can start off hot and get some players to step up right away.5. Beulah: I think that dropping down a class will help them as well with depth and just think at least initially that depth will be hard for a lot of the teams to match.

Some other potential in the hunt teams: Park River-FL loses a lot but returns some talent that if it develops will lead to another good team, Velva is a very strong program that always puts out a great product on the field, Killdeer just always finds a way to keep themselves in the hunt, Carrington figured out some stuff last year and ended the season as one of the hottest teams out east before the playoff loss

QB-DewaldRB/DE-GrueneichRB/OLB/K/P-GoehringFB/MLB-PetersonTE/DE-HansonOL/DL-Schnabel, Nitschke, Rall...(Bruns who didn't play this season due to an accident)S-Hagen...(who will possibly fill in as a WR)CB-Ost...(could fill in at RB or WR)OLB-Madcke...(could fill in at RB or WR)

I fully expect former AA teams Kindred, Hillsboro, Beulah and Trinity to all make the playoffs, and be competitive in the postseason. I'd expect Beulah to be right in there for a state championship, and Region 4 might have the toughest overall playoff field by year's end. Beulah, Hazen, Trinity and Killdeer...not much room for others with the history of those programs. Although, Killdeer I believe opted up. Their depth is not great. They should make the playoffs, but they'll have some work to do after this season.

Curious, what is your justification for region 4 picks? Personal opinion or based on legit information? I'm asking in all sincerity too. I don't want you to think I'm being a jerk. I'm sincerely curious as someone not completely familiar with those teams?

kaybee94, why don't you share how you think that region will play out and share why you think what you think? I am no expert on region 4, but the predictions made by ndfootball4444 seem reasonable with what I know of football out west. I'd like to know your thoughts....

Curious, what is your justification for region 4 picks? Personal opinion or based on legit information? I'm asking in all sincerity too. I don't want you to think I'm being a jerk. I'm sincerely curious as someone not completely familiar with those teams?

IMO all that really matters this year in region 4 is the fact that you have 2 outstanding class 'AA' programs dropping down a class and very doubtful that any other region 4 team will knock them out of the top 2 spots. Playoffs come Velva and Bishop Ryan may give them a run.

d_fense wrote:kaybee94, why don't you share how you think that region will play out and share why you think what you think? I am no expert on region 4, but the predictions made by ndfootball4444 seem reasonable with what I know of football out west. I'd like to know your thoughts....

QB-DewaldRB/DE-GrueneichRB/OLB/K/P-GoehringFB/MLB-PetersonTE/DE-HansonOL/DL-Schnabel, Nitschke, Rall...(Bruns who didn't play this season due to an accident)S-Hagen...(who will possibly fill in as a WR)CB-Ost...(could fill in at RB or WR)OLB-Madcke...(could fill in at RB or WR)